Microsoft bids farewell to Windows Vista with end of support

The time has come: Microsoft has put the final nail in the coffin for Windows Vista. As detailed on its support site, Microsoft will no longer ship new security updates, non-security hotfixes, or even free or paid assisted support options as of today, April 11.

From Microsoft:

Microsoft has provided support for Windows Vista for the past 10 years, but the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources towards more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.

Vista originally launched in January 2007, coming five years after the launch of Windows XP. While Vista introduced the new Aero UI elements that would later be refined in Windows 7, Vista became one of Microsoft's more maligned Windows releases due to high system requirements, a lack of compatible drivers at launch, and a number of other issues.

The end of life date for Vista has been known for a while, and Microsoft actually ended what it calls "mainstream support" all the way back in 2012. Today's move marks the end of extended support for the OS.

Even though support has ended, you'll still be able to keep using Windows Vista. However, in the absence of security updates, you're much more open to viruses and malware attacks. Compounding the problem is that Microsoft also says it has stopped offering Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows Vista.

If you happen to still be hanging onto Vista as your OS of choice, Microsoft recommends an upgrade to a PC with Windows 10, which just so happens to be receiving a pretty big upgrade with the Creators Update today.